JACKSON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES February 18, 2015

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1 JACKSON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES The regular meeting of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee was called to order by Steve Gies in the Jackson County Roads Auditorium, 7520 Table Rock Road, Central Point, at 12:00 PM. Present were: Steve Gies Debi Johnson Theresa Morris Tom Hilton Rick Thomas Dave Wieczorek Not Present were: Michael Golding Donna Lane Also Present were: John Vial Steve Lambert Debbie Hanker Jenna Stanke Marmon Jill Hammond Guests / Visitors: Colleen Roberts Mark Keeley Jim Pendleton Travis Kelly Larry Mentor Chair Vice Chair Secretary Director, Jackson County Roads and Parks Parks Program Manager, Jackson County Parks Administrative Assistant, Jackson County Parks Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Mgr, JC Roads & Parks Office Assistant IV, Jackson County Parks Commissioner, Jackson County Bend Field Office, Bureau of Reclamation Talent Irrigation District Watermaster, Jackson County Regional Manager, Jackson County Watermaster NEW MEMBER, GUESTS, VISITOR INTRODUCTIONS Today we welcome visiting Commissioner Colleen Roberts. Presenting guests include Mark Keeley from Bureau of Reclamation, Jim Pendleton of the Talent Irrigation District, Travis Kelly and Larry Mentor with Jackson County Watermaster. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Steve Gies asked for corrections or additions to the minutes of the January 21, 2015 meeting. A motion was made by Rick Thomas and seconded by Debi Johnson that THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 21, 2015 MEETING BE APPROVED. Motion carried. 1

2 TALENT IRRIGATION DISTRICT Jim Pendleton, Manager of Talent Irrigation District, presented information for Emigrant Lake and Howard Prairie Reservoirs on current water levels, outlook for summer levels, and a general update on how water is apportioned throughout the Talent Irrigation storage and distribution system. BEAR CREEK GREENWAY UPDATE Jenna Stanke Marmon who manages the Bear Creek Greenway projects provided an update. The trail is complete from Nevada Street in Ashland to Dean Creek Trailhead, Central Point, which is frontage road off Blackwell Road intersection and just shy of 20 miles FYI if you ride the entire Greenway then around the parking lot once you ll have your 20 miles! Bear Creek Greenway is now designated a State Regional Trail. Also mileage chart with travel time has been added to update large map. QR code for reader users takes directly to website automatically The first phase of the Larson Creek Greenway has been completed. This section connects to the Bear Creek Greenway and serves as a feeder from South East Medford. Phase 2 is funded and goes to Saint Mary s School. Will also help to serve guests of Bear Creek Greenway. Completed Pine to Upton 1.4 mile project section now complete takes trail users through Expo Fairgrounds. Made possible by ODOT Transportation Enhancement grant funding and local match from Bear Creek Greenway Foundation. Trail counters, directional signs and mile makers have been installed. Kiosks will all have updated maps. The counters show number of users, whether they re pedestrian or cyclist and direction of travel. Usage seems to be consistent throughout system with approximately 350 trail users daily; 125, ,000 users per year. Planned This summer two ramps will be added to connect trail to Hwy 62 near Red Lobster. City of Phoenix is working on a connection from their community to Blue Heron Park and will include crossing with signal to get people across Hwy 99. ODOT, as part of a project, has committed to adding a trail connection from Dean Creek Road along Blackwell to Kirtland tunnel; path adjacent to roadway. City of Ashland is looking to extend trail south from the Ashland Dog Park to North Mountain Park. Management, maintenance and Joint Powers Commitment Agreement was signed seven years ago. Each jurisdiction facilitates for major and routine maintenance and contributes to fund to do major maintenance. Trying to incorporate more of the volunteer program which includes Adopt-A-Greenway and Greenway Hosts who already use trail regularly and report any issues they see. Part of the management 2

3 and maintenance plan update (which is part of the Joint Powers agreement update) is rethinking how major and routine maintenance is done; being more efficient on management of trail. Update of Rogue River Greenway A few new segments have been added to the Rogue River Greenway Trail including Sardine Creek to Del Rio Vineyard quite a beautiful section of trail. RRG recently awarded funding to do preliminary engineering for approximately 2.4 miles of trail which would connect to Valley of Rogue then extend to just west of Del Rio Vineyard section. Last gap to connect cities of Gold Hill to Rogue River. Cascade Siskiyou Mountains Loop Currently in the process of being designated an Oregon State Scenic Bikeway. Also check out Travel Oregon, Cycle Oregon and Ride Oregon Ride websites. SOUTHERN OREGON FEBRUARY 6 TH STORM DAMAGE ASSESSMENT Flood damage to Bear Creek Greenway. Lots of shoulder damage and downed trees, twigs and brush along trail. Area cleaned up and repaired quickly. 3

4 Emigrant Lake Recreation Area faired ok. The Howard Prairie Resort was hit by strong winds during the storm. While trees fell in all areas of the Howard Prairie and Hyatt lakes region due to extremely high winds, the South loop of the Howard Prairie Resort was hit especially hard. Jackson County Parks staff is estimating that a minimum of 50 trees fell in the park, with the majority of them in the south camp loop. Falling trees tore down power lines feeding the campsites in the E loop, ripped water lines from the ground, and smashed picnic tables and fire rings. Parks staff is working diligently with the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have the trees removed and the campground restored to a safe condition. As the land is owned by the BLM, the county cannot remove the trees with county forces, as they are federal property. The BLM and BOR are currently working to put a contract together for the site cleanup. While this work is being done, the south camp loop (sites S and E) will remain closed to the public, which will likely be through mid-may, although we are hoping that it will be sooner. The north camp loop along with the day-use area will open to the public on Thursday April 23 rd in time for opening fishing weekend. Once suitable for public use, the south loop will reopen, but will not have water and electric service to campsites for this summer (dry camping only). Fortunately, Jackson County has been awarded grants to replace the electrical and water system in the south loop campground this year. As such, staff will be contracting this summer for new underground electrical service to the E loop sites, new potable water system in the entire south loop, and replacement of the restroom/shower building in the south loop. 4

5 REVIEW 2015/2016 JACKSON COUNTY PARK BUDGET Steve Lambert presented handouts and information on Jackson County Park Budget for discussion. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / TOPICS Adding/promoting alternate events & activities at Howard Prairie Lake o Scenic bikeway events o Non-motorized boat use (canoe, kayak, etc.) o Ideas Sports Park update Expo RV Park update Advertising for 2015 Season Invite Corey Falls, new Jackson County Sheriff to future PRAC meeting Emigrant Lake gravel parking lot On-Site ODOT & ODFW river property review (Spring 2015) SDC Program Future of Givan Shady Cove Waterworks Inter-governmental Discussion on Policies How JCP fits in. Park Sponsors Parks Comprehensive Plan ADJOURNMENT As there was no further business before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 1:52 PM. 5